Elevation of von Willebrand factor levels in patients with IgA nephropathy : Effect of ACE inhibition

Abstract The von Willebrand factor (vWF) has been used as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in several diseases. We measured plasma vWF in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). In a group of 10 IgAN patients with normal renal function, normal blood pressure, and no proteinuria, vWF plasma levels were significantly higher than in a group of 21 healthy volunteers (134% ± 38% v 80% ± 22%; P v 80% ± 22%; P P P r = 0.6; P